Her head lolled to the side, and a laugh spilled free-soft at first, then growing, curling around the walls like a mocking chant.

Sergius froze mid-sob, bloodied hands shaking and clawing at the stone. Haspan's whip halted mid-air, his chest heaving as his gaze snapped toward the bed.

Ariya was laughing-eyes still closed, body limp in her unnatural sleep, yet her voice carried a chilling, mirthless sound that cut through the chamber sharper than any whip.

Haspan's fury faltered for the ...